Colombian House Absolves President Ernesto Samper, U.S. Revokes
His Visa

SUMMER 1996

On June 12 the lower house of the Colombian Congress absolved President
Ernesto Samper of charges that his election was financed by millions of
dollars in drug money from the Cali cartel. With a 111-43 vote, the Congress
cleared Samper, ending impeachment proceedings against him (Paul Haven,
"Colombian president absolved," Chicago Sun Times, June
14, 1996, p. S31; Douglas Farah, "Colombian House Absolves Samper,"
Washington Post, June 13, 1996, p. A22; Reuters).

The charges of Samper's corruption arose from disclosure of tape recordings
between Cali drug lords and Samper campaign aides, and allegations by Samper's
1994 campaign manager and treasurer. Colombia's chief prosecutor, Alfonso
Valdivieso, charged Samper with illicit enrichment, falsifying documents,
electoral fraud and obstruction of justice. Samper conceded that tainted
money had entered the campaign, but claimed that he was unaware of it and
was therefore not guilty. Colombian media have called the debate in Congress
"the trial of the century" because it marked the first time a
sitting president has been subjected to possible impeachment. For more background
information, see the February 1996
and March 1996 issues of NewsBriefs.

Samper's absolution had been expected by most observers because Samper's
Liberal Party dominates Congress, and over two dozen of the 165 House members
are under investigation themselves for alleged corruption. Critics complain
that the investigation was corrupted and lacked depth. The 14 days of congressional
debates was called "a farce mounted to cover up the crimes committed
by Mr. Samper" by Colombian business and civic leaders who oppose him.
The Colombian Supreme Court had ruled earlier that members who relied on
political expediency, rather than the evidence, to judge Samper could be
prosecuted for "neglect of duty."

Leaders in the Roman Catholic Church, leading businessmen, the media,
and political leaders are now calling for Samper's resignation. "Though
it may sound surprising, the real crisis has not yet begun," wrote
Fernando Cepeda, political analyst and member of the Liberal Party. The
opposing Conservative Party said that Liberal Party loyalists who voted
to exonerate Samper have "destroyed what little popular confidence
remained in the judicial system." During "anti-Samper" meetings,
Colombian business leaders said the President lacked the "conditions
of governability" or political legitimacy and support.

In addition, Colombian leaders worried that the decision would sour relations
with the United States even further. U.S. State Department spokesman, Nicholas
Burns, said the vote "leaves unanswered many questions regarding pervasive
narcotrafficker influence on Colombia's institutions," He added, "It
will not resolve the resultant crisis of confidence." During the weeks
leading up to the vote, U.S. officials said they were considering sanctions
against Colombia such as recessions of preferential trade tariffs, revoking
landing rights for planes, and canceling visas for political leaders.

In a secret cable dated June 12, hours before the Samper vote, the U.S.
embassy explained its anti-Samper plans. The cable, signed by U.S. Ambassador
Myles Frechette, said "Samper should be kept as invisible as possible
in our bilateral relationship." It recommended support for honest Colombian
law enforcement to arrest money launderers and to "build murder cases
against narcotraffickers." "Our objective is not to remove the
president [who was democratically elected]," one senior administration
official said, requesting anonymity. He added, "The options on the
table are aimed at pressing the Colombian government to deliver more aggressive
action." U.S. officials in Bogota added that Washington does not want
to do anything that would jeopardize the work of Valdivieso, who is a strong
anti-drug crusader (Thomas W. Lippman, "Ambassador's Memo Details Tricky
Dance With Colombia," Washington Post, June 30, 1996, p. A20).

This follows a March 1 decision by the U.S. to decertify Colombia in
the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, making it ineligible
to receive any economic assistance from the U.S.. For more information on
that report, see the April 1996 issue
of NewsBriefs.

On July 11, the U.S. State Department revoked Samper's visa, citing the
"substantial evidence" that the Samper campaign "solicited
and received something over $6.5 million" from known drug traffickers.
The revocation was approved by President Clinton and announced to Samper
by Ambassador Frechette. "Our message today is clear and it is simple:
People who knowingly assist narco-traffickers are not welcome in the United
States," said State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns. The Colombian
government denounced the revocation as "injurious to the nation's dignity."
The ban does not apply to travel by Samper to the United Nations in New
York. Other prominent Colombian officials whose US visas have been revoked
include Gustavo De Grieff, ambassador to Mexico and chief prosector from
1992-1994, and David Turbay, the former comptroller general (Michael Dobbs,
"U.S. Revokes Visa for Head of Colombia," Washington Post,
July 12, 1996, p. A1).

State Department officials say that Samper failed to show his commitment
to anti-drug efforts after his absolution by Congress, particularly, the
failure of Colombia to honor four U.S. extradition requests on June 24.
These included the jailed brothers, Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela,
alleged leaders of the Cali cartel. A response letter to U.S. Attorney General
Janet Reno from Colombian Justice Minister Carlos Medellin said the extraditions
were banned by the Colombian constitution. Medellin argued that "no
other country has made as many efforts against drug trafficking as Colombia."
The U.S. was also angered by the early release from jail of Jorge Luis Ochoa
after serving only five and a half years. The U.S. tried to extradite Ochoa
for drug and murder charges as early as 1984 (Reuters, "Colombia says
it can't extradite drug lords," Philadelphia Inquirer, June
30, 1996, p. A4; Richard Bashor, "U.S. angry as Medellin cartel founder
is freed from prison," Chicago Tribune, July 6, 1996, s.1 p.4).

Jorge Luis Ochoa's brother, Juan Ochoa Vasquez, was released from prison
in July after serving five months of a six-year sentence. Juan Ochoa is
wanted in the U.S. for the 1986 slaying of a DEA informant. A third brother,
Fabio, is due to be released in August. All three brothers surrendered to
authorities and were offered early release in return for aiding the Colombian
government in apprehending other drug traffickers (Reuters, "Colombian
Trafficker Leaves Prison," Washington Post, July 29, 1996, p.
A20).